Well pumping system



`March 26., 1935. A 1 F PURDUM 1,995,815v

WELL PUMPI'NG SYSTEM Filed Aug. '6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheetl 1 WMM/c 'JW-Z' j a//' #cca/wurm 2221K A TTORNEYI March 26, 1935. J, F, PURDUM 1,995,815

WELL PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @NV llw n March 26, 1935. J. F. PURDUM WELL PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 zo @Mmm/6 i@ d my a Q 0f 5 7 f 0 md fr 9 i? 5. 20 M J ww MM a m i@ w a`... 43- ma w UK fu www@ 0 wm Aanw 7. m*

IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 26, 1935 Y l i UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE WELL PUMPING SYSTEM John F.,Purdum, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application August 6, 1932, Serial No. 627,717 o 18 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 45) My invention relates to a system of pumping Fig. 8, a detail sectional View of a portion of a Wells and more particularly to a system of simulwell pump and pump actuating means of the taneously pumping a plurality of oil wells and form of Fig. 2, showing the oil discharge pipe the like from a central station. separate from the actuating fluid pipe; and

My invention contemplates apparatus prefer- Fig. 9, a detail view, showing mechanical means 5 ably including a fluid actuated pump disposed in for operating the control means. each Well to be pumped, `with the severall pumps Referring to the drawings, A designates a pluconnected to 'a common source of actuating fluid, rality of wells designed to be pumped from a cenpressure producing means, pressure fluid lines tral station. Asillustrated and as preferred, each l0 leading from the common source, lines leading Well is provided with a hydraulic or fluid-actu- 10 from the several well pumps to a receiving tank or ated pump 5, each adapted to be independently tanks, and valve structures for controlling the connected with a common source of fluid under ow of the actuating fluid to the pumps foreiectpressure, the latter being maintained in a coning an operation thereof and the discharge from ntainer, accumulator or distributor 6, and prothe wells. l duced by a pump or compressor 7 operated by a u A prime object 'of the present invention is to suitable motor 8. provide a multiple well pumping system, embody- The actuating fluid, which may comprise air,

ing simple and efcient means for simultaneously gas, and/or oil or other fluids, is passed from a pumping aplurality of wells froma central station pump or compressor '7 to an accumulator 6, While independently regulating or controlling the through line 9, and from the accumulator to the 20 vproduction of each well and gathering the producrespective pumps 5 through lines 10. As shown, tion thereof. each line l0 is provided lwith a valve structure in- My invention preferably contemplates means cluding a valve proper 11 and a control mechaoperable by fluid pressure in thesystem for conynism 12, and, in addition thereto, with a prestrolling the passage of actuating fluid to the sure chamber 13.

vpump actuating means and the discharge of oil In the event oil is employed as the actuating or other uid from the pumps, thus providing an fluid for the pumps, it is drawn from a tank 14 automatic operation. through pipe 15 to the pump, and from thence is It is, however, within the scope of my invention passed into line 9 leading to the accumulator. to employ mechanical means for the operation of Tank 14 is utilized as a gathering tank for the 30 the means controlling the passage of the actuat pumped oil and, if desired, may be in the form ing fluid and the discharge of the oil, or a comof'an oil separator. Leading from each 'of the bination of fluid pressure operable control means valves 11 to tank 14 is a line 16 adapted to conand mechanically operable control means. vey the pumped oil into said tank or into separate In the accompanying drawings, which illustanks, as desired. 35 trate aDPICatOIlS 0f my inVentOIlI For the purpose of relieving any excess pres- Fig- 1 iS a diagrammatic plan 0f a- Dllmpng sure in the system, I provide a relief valve 17, System embOdyng my nVentOn; which may be placed at any suitable point in the Fg- 2. a Vertical SeCtOll, partly in elevatin, system. An associated pipe 18 may be employed 40 0f 011 0f the Wells, Showing a Valve and'its asfor conveying fluid from the system back into 40 l sociated control device in position for the adtank 14 or to some other point. 19 designates a. mSSiOn 0f actuating fluid t0 the Well Dump flOIll pipe for conveying oil-from tank 14 to a storage the accumulatOl; tank 20, and 21 designates a flow bean located in Fig. 3, a view ofy the valve and control device each of the lines 16.

of Fig. 2, showing the Same' in DOSitiOIl for the It will be understood that both the actuating 45 discharge 0f Well lld; uid passed to the well pumps, and the pumped Fig. 4, a detail View, partly in elevation and oil from the said pumps, may pass in opposite partly in Section. showing a modified form of directions through a portion of each line 10;

valve and control means; this is indicated by the arrows; but, if desired, Fig. 5, a sectional view taken on line V--V of a separate line 10b may be directly connected 50 Fig. 4; with an extension of the pump barrel (see Fig. 8)

Fig. 6, a detail sectional view,particularly showand the oil discharged therethrough. ing a modified form of control means; The hydraulic well pump 5 isy preferably of Fig. '7, a detail sectional View taken on the the plunger type and may be placed in the Well, line VII-VII of Fig. 6; with the barrel 22 thereof at its upper end con- 55 nected with an elongated cylindrical head or casing 23, the latter being designed to have a plunger or piston 24 mounted therein. Piston 24, at its lower end, is cut away, as at 25, to receive the upper end of a pump rod 26, the latter having a head 27 adapted to be seated upon a spring 28 interposed between a ledge 29 of piston 24 and the said head 27. 30 designates packing between the piston and its cylindrical casing 23.

For the purpose of limiting the upward travel of piston 24 and varying the length of the stroke of the pump, I provide a vertically adjustable hollow cap 31, preferably threaded on head 23, and a spring 32 designed to cause a gradual stop of the upward movement of the piston. Springs 28 and 32 also function to decrease the shock load on the rods 26.

In operation, the actuating fluid under pressure is introduced into the casing 23 below the lower end of piston 24 through the pump actuating fluid line 10 from the accumulator. This pressure raises the piston 24, together with the well pump rod or rods 26, and thereby operates the plunger of the pump to effect a passage of the oil upwardly into the casing 23, where it mixes with the actuating fluid from line 10. In

the form of Fig. 8, the discharge of oil from the well is through pipe 10b, and hence it does not mix with the actuating fluid.

As piston 24 reaches a predetermined height, determined by the length of stroke desired, it contacts with the spring 32 or the cap 31, thus arresting its upward movement. This stoppage of the piston will build up the pressure in casing 23 and line 10 until said pressure is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the control mechanism of the valve structurein said line, whereupon a change of position of the valve proper 11 will be effected.

For example, and referring to Fig. 2, assuming valve 11 to be set .to allow the actuating fluid to pass from the accumulator through line 10 to the well pump, the building up of the pressure just described will move valve 11 to cut oi the flow of said fluid to the pump, and, upon the down stroke of piston 24, well fluid or oil will be passed back through line 10 to line 16 and then into tank 14.

As particularly shown by Fig. 2, the accumulator or fluid .pressure container may be provided with a plunger 32a carrying a weighted head 33, the plunger being operable through packing glands 34. This construction provides a pressure equalizer, whereby a uniform pressure may be maintained in the accumulator.

The control mechanism 12, as well as the valve 11 of the combined valve structure, may be of different construction. In the form of Fig. 2, the valve proper includes a casing 35 having a fluid passage 36 therethrough and ports 37 and 38, respectively designed to communicate with the actuating fluid line 10 and the line 16 for the discharge from the well pump. In this form, a piston 39, having its stem 40 projected through the valve casing and into the casing of the control mechanism is employed. The controldevice or mechanism, in this instance, comprises an angular casing 41, spaced a slight distance from the valve casing, and having a right angle portion 42. Packing glands 43 are preferably employed at the adjacentends of the two casings.

45 designates a plunger head and 46 its rod. Head 45 is formed with beveled surfaces 47 and 48 designed to contact with a head 49 of a springpressed member 50 disposedin the portion 42 of the casing. A spring 51 exerts an inward pressure on head 49, tending to maintain head 49 in contact with the surface 47 or 48 of head 45. The head 45 is provided with an abutment 53 seating against a spring 54 in the casing 41. The combined force of the two springs holds head 45 in a set position and the piston 39 of valve 11 in position to permit the passage of the actuating fluid from the accumulator through line 10 to the well pump 5.

As above stated, when the pressure in line 10 builds up sufllciently to overcome the resistance of the control device, piston 39 of valve 11 is moved to close communication of the inlet portion 10a of line 10 with the passage 36 of the valve, and cut off the flow of actuating fluid into the valve casing and, in turn, to the well pump, and to form communication through ports 37 and 38 between line 10 and line 16, thus permitting a discharge of oil from the well pump to pass into line 16, and thence to the gathering tank (see Fig. 3).

After the pressure is reduced, spring 54 acts to move head 45, and in turn piston head 39 of valve 11. to the positions shown by Fig. 2, thus again permitting passage of the actuating fluid to the well pump.

It will be noted that this construction provides an automatic control for the well pump actuating fluid and the fluid or oil discharge from said pump.

When the well fluid is discharged from the pump through a separate discharge pipe 10b, as in Fig. 8, without mixing with the actuating fluid, it will be understood that the control means controlling the flow of said actuating fluid to and from the pump cylinder, may be provided with a suitable exhaust port (not shown) for relieving the pressure in said cylinder for downward gravity stroke of the piston or plunger 24.

In the form of Fig. 4, I preferably employ a two-way plug valve 55, although a one-way valve may be used, but a control mechanism 12 of substantially the same construction as that of Fig. 2.

In this form, the control device isdirectly subjected to the pressure in the operating line and is utilized for moving the plug valve from the position for permitting the passage of actuating fluid to a pump to the position for permitting the discharged oil from the well to pass through lines l0 and 16 to the gathering tank.

As shown, the stem of the plug valve has a link 56 extending therefrom and in operative engagement, by a pin and slot connection, with an extension 57 of rod 46a. Plunger head 45a is provided with contacting portions similar to the portions 47 and 48 of the form of Fig. 2, and is set and functions in a manner similar to the last mentioned form. In this instance, fluid acts against the resistance of the springs by direct contact with a plunger rod 58, the fluid being conveyed thereto from line 10 through a branch 59. 60 designates an oil discharge opening, through which a quantity of oil may be withdrawn, and which is normally closed by a cap 61. Oil or other fluid from the well pump is passed from line 10 through a by-pass 62 to the plug valve, and from thence to a gathering tank through line 16. This form also provides an automatically operable construction, operable by the pressure in the system for effecting a feed of actuating fluid to the well pump and a discharge of oil therefrom. Should a one-way valve be utilized inplace of the two-way valve 55, the oil discharge opening 60 may be connected with line 16 and the by-pass 62,eliminated.

Fig. 6 shows a still further modified form of control.v device adapted, for example, to be employed with a valve of the form of Fig. 2. In this construction, the piston head stem of the valve is designed to make engagement with a pivotally mounted lever 62, mounted on a pivot pin 63 supported on an oil bath tank 64, the latter being designed to receive a cam 65, gear 66, and a-pinion 67. Pinion shaft 68 may be driven by a belt, not shown, leading from pulley wheel 69 mounted on the shaft of motor 8 (see Fig. l). The showing of Fig. 1 is, of course, more or less diagrammatic and in practice of the invention, the control valves in the various lines are relatively close together and hence any suitable power transmission means may be used to drive shafts 68 from the shaft 8 or pulley wheel 69 thereon. Lever 62 is set by means of a spring pressed plunger 70 having a pointed end for engagement with the notched free end of lever 62.

The position of the piston valve shown by Fig. 6 permits actuating fluid to pass to the well pump and this valve functions as in the form of Fig. 2. That is to say, when pressure in the line l0 builds up sufficiently, a movement ofthe valve is effected. This movement is against the resistance of lever 62. When this resistance is overcome, lever 62 is freed from the plunger 70 and falls against a stop 71. The valve, by the action of the rotating cam 65, returns lever 62 to its set position, thus forcing the valve back into kthe position shown in Fig. 6L In operation, the

number of pumping strokes of the well pump per minute will be governed by the speed of the cam.

In the form of Fig. 9, I have shown the actuating fluid control means operable by mechanical means, in place of the fluid pressure operable means. In this instance, I utilize the valve proper construction of the form of Figs. 2 and 3,

I and provide a head *72 on the valve rod 40 and interpose-a spring '73 between the head and the packing gland of the valve casing, designed to exert pressure on piston 39 to hold itin position to permit the passage of oil or other fluid from the pump to the gathering tank.

Designed for cooperation with the head 72 of rod 40' is a cam 74. Cam 74 is rotated by any suitable means, as by a pinion 75 mounted on a rotatable shaft 76. Shafts 76 may be driven from the motor shaft 8 by any suitable power transmission mea-ns, as explained with reference to the driving of shafts 68. Cam 74 functions to periodically move the piston to position to permit the passage of the actuating fluid to the pump, and is timed to keep it in open position until the actuating fluid raises the plunger 24 the required length of pumping stroke. As soon as this is accomplished, the cam releases`rod 40 and the spring returns the piston 39 to relief position or to the position shown by Figs. 3 and 10.

lI claim: n

l. In a well pumping system, the combination with a plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps, fluid pressure producing means, means having outlets for the discharge of oil from the pumps, the last mentioned means being operable by fluid pressure for controlling a flow of actuating fluid to the pumps and a discharge of oil from the pumps, a connection between the pressure producing means and the'control means, and a line from the control means to a pump.

2. In a well pumping system, the combination with a plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps,

producing means, a container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to the pump, control means in said line including a valve for controlling the passage of actuating fluid to the pump, said controlmeans having a discharge conduit closed by the valve during the supply of actuating fluid to the pump, said valve being movable by pressure from a well to open the conduit for discharge of well fluid,

4. In a well pumping system, the combination with a fluid-actuated well pump, fluid pressure producing means, a container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to the pump, control means in said line having an outlet for the discharge of oil from the pump, said last mentioned means being operable by the pressure therein for controlling the passage of actuating fluid to the pump and a discharge of well fluid from the pump through said outlet.

5. In a well pumping system, the combination with a fluid-actuated well pump, fluid pressure producing means, fluid-actuated means associated with the pump, a line for the passage of fluid under pressure to the fluid-actuated means, control means in said line including a valve for controlling the passage of fluid to the actuating means, said control means having a discharge conduit closed by the valve during the supply of actuating fluid to the pump, said valve being movable by pressure from a well to open the conduit for discharge of fluid from the pump, and a line from the pressure producing means to the control means.

6. In a well pumping system, the combination with a plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps, fluid pressure producing means, a common container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to each well pump, a control means in each line having outlet means for the -discharge of oil from the pumps, the last mentioned means being operable by the pressure therein for controlling the passage of actuating fluid to a pump and a discharge of well fluid from the pump through said outlet means.

1. In a well pumping system, the combination with a. plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps, fluid pressure producing means, a common containero for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to each well pump, a valve in each line, and a control device in eachline having a discharge pipe for oil 4from the pump, said device being operable by the pressure therein to move the valve to control a flow of actuating fluid from the container to a well pump and a discharge of well fluid from the pump through the discharge pipes.

8. In a well pumping system, the combination with a plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps, uid pressure producing means, a common co tainer for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to each well pump, a valve in each line, an oil gathering tank, a line from one of the first mentioned lines to the gathering tank, and a control device in each of the flrst mentioned lines having a discharge pipe for oil from the pump, said device serving to move the associated valve to control a Iflow of actuating fluid from the container to a well pump and a discharge of oil from the well pump through said discharge pipe into the gathering tank.

9. In a well-pumping system, the combination with a plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps, fluid pressure vproducing means, a common container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to each well pump, a valve in each line, an oil gathering tank, a line from one of the first mentioned lines to the gathering tank, and a control device in each of the first mentioned lines having a discharge pipe for oil from the associated pump, each said device being operable by the pressure therein to move the valve to control a flow of actuating fluid from the container to a well pump and a discharge of oil from the well pump through said discharge pipes into the gathering tank.

10. In a well pumping system, the combination with a fluid-actuated reciprocating-piston well pump, fluid pressure producing'means, a container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, afluid line from the container to the pump, a valve in said line movable by the pressure therein in one direction, and means for moving the valve in an opposite direction.

11. In a well pumping system, the combination with a vertically movable well pump, a casing associated with the vertically movable pump, a pump actuating plunger within the casing, fluid pressure producing means, a container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the container, a fluid line from the container to the casing to supply fluid pressure beneath the plunger, and means for controlling a flow of actuating fluid to the casing and a discharge of oil from the pump operable by pressure from the well and having an outlet means for the discharge of said oil therethrough.

12. In a well pumping system, the combination with a well pump, a casing associated with the pump, a pump actuating plunger Within the casing, fluid pressure producing means, a container for fluid under pressure, an operative connection between said means and the coniainer, a fluid line from the container to the casing, and pressure-operated means having an outlet for the discharge of oil from the pump, said last means functioning for controlling a flow of actuating fluid to the casing and a discharge of oil from the pump.

13. In a well pumping system, the combination with a fluid-actuated well pump, a casing, means to supply actuating fluid to said casing, an oil discharge means for the casing, a valve in said casing to close said discharge means upon the initial supply of actuating fluid, a conduit communicating with the casing and the pump to conduct power fluid to the pump, said valve being movable by pressure through said conduit from the well, counter to the'actuating fluid, to open said discharge means so that oil may flow therethrough. 14. A well pumping system according to claim 13 wherein said well pump is vertically disposed, an operating plunger in said pump4 receiving the actuating fluid from beneath, said plunger being adapted for return to lower position by gravity.

l5. In a well pumping system, the combination with 4a plurality of fluid-actuated well pumps, fluid pressure producing means, and fluid pressure-operated means having outlets for the discharge of oil from the pumps for controlling a. l

flow of actuating fluid from the first means individually to the several pumps and a discharge of oil from the pumps through the said discharge outlets. 16. `In a well pumping system, the combination with a plurality of well pumps having cylinders and fluid actuated pistons reciprocable therein, fluid pressure producing means, fluid pressure operated means having outlets for the discharge of fluid from said actuating cylinders for controlling a flow of actuating fluid from the first means individually to the several actuating cylinders and a discharge of fluid from the actuating cylinders through said discharge outlets, and a separate outlet on each well pump for the discharge of well fluid therethrough.

17. In a well pumping system, the combination with a fluid-actuated reciprocating piston well pump, of fluid pressure producing means, a fluid line from said means to the pump, a valve in said line movable by the pressure therein in one direction, and mechanically operable means for moving the valve in an opposite direction.

18. In a well pumping system, the combination with a fluid-actuated Well pump, fluid pressure producing means, a fluid line from said means to the pump, control means in said line including a valve for controlling the passage of actuating fluid to the pump, said control means having a discharge conduit closed by the valve during the supply of actuating fluid to the pump, said Valve being movable by pressure from the well to open the conduit for discharge of well fluid, and mechanically operable means for return movement of the valve.

I JOHN F. PURDUM.

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